Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Among individuals frequently associated with efforts to glorify the First and Second Republics are Antoine Mukiza Zigiranyirazo, son of Protais Zigiranyirazo, and Jean-Luc Habyarimana, son of former President Juvenal Habyarimana who led Rwanda until 1994, along with other similar figures.

These individuals often claim that their parents and other officials of those regimes committed no wrongdoing, despite well-documented evidence that many played a key role in planning and carrying out the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

In a message shared on X , Minister Bizimana stressed that one way to preserve historical truth is to counter those who spread false narratives about the country’s past.

“The journey of building unity starts with acknowledging the truth of our history — showing how our unity was destroyed. Rwandans had lived in unity for centuries, but this was deliberately broken and culminated in the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

“Let me also remind you that the genocide was planned before that year and, in some areas, killings began earlier [Kibilira, Mutara, Nasho, Rwankuba in Murambi, Mbogo in Kigali, Shyorongi, Bugesera, Gisenyi, Kibuye, Ruhengeri…].”

He explained that the real root of Rwanda’s disunity lies in Belgian colonial policies, missionary influence, and the governments of PARMEHUTU and MRND.

“To legitimize the regimes that planned and carried out the genocide is to keep destroying Rwandan unity. The genocide and its ideology defined the rule of Habyarimana and deeply fractured our unity. We cannot stand by and watch this happen. Instead, we must work together to ensure the truth prevails. That is how we strengthen, support, and safeguard our unity from those who seek to undermine it,” Dr. Bizimana stated.

According to the 2020 Rwanda Reconciliation Barometer (RRB), national reconciliation in Rwanda was measured at 94.7%, indicating a remaining 5.3% gap where continued education and engagement are needed to further strengthen social cohesion.

In an interview with the media about preparations for the elite men’s road race scheduled for Sunday, 28 September 2025, Pogačar did not hold back in comparing the two events.

Asked how he viewed the Rwanda championships compared to the 2024 edition in Australia, he said: “This is much better. Honestly, the layout of the roads here is ten times more challenging than in Australia. Please understand, I don’t mean to disrespect the Australians who designed their course, but it just didn’t feel as tough as this one.”

The 27-year-old, who won the 2024 UCI Road World Championships, said his preparations have gone well and he is determined to work with his teammates to reclaim the gold medal.

“I came here very motivated for the road race on Sunday. I have big ambitions and my legs are ready. We brought a strong team and believe we’re among the top favorites. Our goals are clear, and the energy from the fans along the roads is incredible.”

He highlighted the overwhelming support already present even during training: “Spectators fill the roads during training — it already feels like race day. The roads are in great condition. Yes, the weather is different from home, but that’s fine. We were lucky to train on the outskirts of the city, it’s beautiful and the air is fresh. It’s good that the World Championships are coming to Africa too.”

Having just reclaimed the Tour de France title for the fourth time, the Slovenian rider shared insights about the Kigali course and the challenges it presents: “The roads I’m focusing on include Mont Kigali and the cobblestones at Kwa Mutwe. The cobbles here are different from Belgium — these ones climb in a circular pattern, while others are sharper. But that’s good; it adds to the difficulty of the race.”

“I don’t know why Mont Kigali is only included once and mid-race. We have plenty of other hills to play with, so it’s fine. Overall, the course is great, and we’re ready to compete.”

Pogačar will lead Team Slovenia, joined by top riders such as Primož Roglič, Gal Glivar, Matevž Govekar, Luka Mezgec, Matej Mohorič, Domen Novak, Jaka Primožič, and Matic Žumer.

They will face powerhouse teams including Belgium with Remco Evenepoel; Denmark with Casper Phillip Pedersen; Great Britain with Tom Pidcock; and strong competitors from 57 other countries in the 267.5-kilometer race.

The side event held on Thursday, titled “Peace, Governance, and the Right to Development: Lessons Learned from the Great Lakes Region and Beyond,” gathered diplomats, experts, and civil society representatives to examine practical ways to build resilient and inclusive societies.

Urujeni Bakuramutsa, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations in Geneva, highlighted Rwanda’s experience, emphasizing that unity has been built on the rule of law and a right-to-development agenda.

“Systems had to be strengthened and continue to be improved to ensure that the cornerstone of all development is based on the rule of law. From justice, development is advancing in step: we are talking about concrete rights such as access to water, electricity, education, financial inclusion, and rising life expectancy with universal health coverage,” she stated.

Opening the discussion, Ms. Trisha Riedy, Manager and Senior Trainer at UNITAR, affirmed the Institute’s commitment to advancing governance and human rights.

She stressed that “the right to development is not a privilege — it is a fundamental human right. One that must be realized through accountable governance, inclusive institutions, and the rule of law.”

Moderating the panel, Dr. Bojana Coulibaly, Political Discourse Analyst, underlined the need for decisive leadership. She noted: “Durable solutions require political courage: leaders must reject sectarianism and embrace policies that unite rather than divide.”

Panelist Dr. Alex Mvuka, Researcher and Consultant (Great Lakes Region of Africa), reflected on lessons from international and national approaches to post-conflict governance, underscoring that while strengthening state institutions has been central, lasting peace and development require participatory models that empower local actors.

He pointed to Rwanda’s homegrown solutions, such as imihigo and Ubudehe, as successful initiatives demonstrating how inclusive governance can drive social transformation.

Drawing on decades of legal and field experience in the Great Lakes region, particularly in eastern DRC, Advocate Bernard Maingain stressed the consequences when impunity prevails and ethnic groups are targeted. He emphasized that hatred and divisive ideology remain present in the region and must urgently be addressed and combated at all costs.

The side event underscored the importance of Rwanda–UNITAR collaboration in spotlighting the nexus between governance, peace, and development.

In closing, Ambassador Bakuramutsa thanked UNITAR and the panelists for their contributions, reiterating Rwanda’s conviction that the right to development must remain anchored in justice, inclusivity, and effective governance to achieve lasting peace.

The revocation followed remarks President Petro made during a street protest.

The State Department confirmed the decision in a post on X, stating: “Earlier today, Colombian president Gustavo Petro stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”

The actions in question occurred when the leftist Colombian leader joined thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside the UN headquarters.

During his address, President Petro was filmed urging American service members to defy authority. According to multiple reports, he said: “I ask all the soldiers in the United States army not to point their rifles at humanity. Disobey Trump’s order! Obey the order of humanity!”

The remarks came amid escalating tensions between the two countries, which have historically been strong allies.

The incident followed President Petro’s formal address to the UN General Assembly earlier in the week. In that speech, he had already delivered sharp criticism toward the US, accusing President Donald Trump of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza and calling for “criminal proceedings” against US officials over missile strikes on suspected drug-running boats in the Caribbean.

In response to the visa revocation, Colombia’s Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, wrote on X that the action was politically motivated. The minister suggested that the US was targeting Petro because he “dared to denounce the genocide against Palestine at the UN.”

Colombian media reported that President Petro was already en route to Bogotá from New York on Friday night when the State Department made the announcement.

Petro is the second Colombian president whose US visa has been revoked; the first was Ernesto Samper in 1996, over alleged drug trafficking ties, according to TRT World.

Zelensky wrote earlier on the social media platform X that Ukrainian forces had recorded violations of the country’s airspace “by reconnaissance drones, which are likely Hungarian,” and that preliminary assessments suggested the flights may have targeted Ukraine’s border industrial areas.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has strongly denied the allegation. Writing on his Facebook page, Szijjarto said Zelensky “is losing himself in anti-Hungarian sentiments” and “is chasing phantoms.”

Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have been marked by recurring tensions in recent years. Hungary has repeatedly criticized Ukrainian attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline, a key route for its energy supplies from Russia, and has raised concerns over the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathian region.

At the same time, Hungary is strongly opposed to Ukraine’s EU accession process, citing the need for guarantees on the protection of its minorities, but also the negative impact Ukraine’s accession would have on the EU’s agriculture subsidy system.

High-level exchanges have remained strained, with both sides often trading accusations in public statements.

Despite these disputes, Hungary has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the outbreak of the armed conflict in February 2022, opening its borders to refugees and even setting up a Ukrainian-language school for the refugee children.

The new academy will serve as a regional center for education, research, and collaboration on conservation practices. Its location at the southern gate of Akagera National Park will give students and professionals direct access to real-world ecosystems, allowing practical training alongside theoretical studies.

“The academy will be established at the southern gate of the park, positioning Rwanda as a regional conservation hub,” Eugene Mutangana, Head of the Conservation Department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) told The New Times.

The facility is expected to offer advanced training programs for conservation practitioners across Africa while creating opportunities for Rwandan park managers, rangers, and community leaders to develop specialized expertise to manage Rwanda’s protected areas.

The academy will be developed through a partnership with the African Parks Network, a non-profit conservation organization that co-manages several of Rwanda’s national parks.

A Cabinet meeting on September 15, 2025, approved the agreement, with the official signing scheduled for September 30, 2025.

Under the partnership, Rwanda will own 49 percent of the academy, while African Parks will hold the remaining stake.

Rwanda will contribute land and access to Akagera National Park for hands-on training.

“Our contribution includes the 8 hectares of land and granting students full-time access to Akagera National Park for their practical work,” Mutangana explained.

Following the signing, construction of the academy’s infrastructure and development of its academic systems are expected to take about one year.

The first cohort of students is projected to begin training in 2027.

The draft resolution, tabled by China and Russia, won four votes in favor and nine votes against, with two abstentions, failing to get the nine positive votes required for adoption.

If adopted, the draft resolution would have extended the nuclear deal between Iran and the six countries of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, as well as Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the deal, for six months, and would have prevented a “snapback” of UN sanctions against Iran.

Friday’s voting result was exactly the same as that on Sept. 19 on a draft resolution put forward by the Republic of Korea in its capacity as Security Council president for the month of September, which, if adopted, would have continued to provide sanctions relief for Iran.

Algeria, China, Pakistan and Russia voted in favor of Friday’s draft resolution. Guyana and the Republic of Korea abstained. The remaining nine members of the Security Council voted against it.

Britain, France and Germany — the three European countries in the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — claimed they triggered the snapback mechanism on Aug. 28 by notifying the Security Council of Tehran’s “non-performance.”

Under Resolution 2231, the UN sanctions in place before the resolution’s adoption would resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. The Sept. 19 draft resolution to that effect failed.

However, the legality of the three countries’ move has been questioned as it has skipped the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) provided for in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.

Under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, the DRM has 35 days to resolve the disagreement. A snapback can be triggered only after the DRM fails to resolve the issue.

Resolution 2231 expires on Oct. 18, 2025, after which time the Security Council would stop considering the Iran nuclear deal.

Adams made the remarks during the official inauguration of the ‘Field of Dreams cycling facility, built in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, Bugesera District.

The event was attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, Israel’s Ambassador to Rwanda Einat Weiss; Serge Gasore, founder of the Gasore Foundation; Richard Mutabazi, Mayor of Bugesera District, Shaul Haztir, CEO of Winner Rwanda, and other dignitaries.

The project was launched in February 2022 as part of the #RaceForChange initiative, an effort to advance cycling and promote positive social transformation.

The facility features two cycling tracks, a pump track and a race track, both designed to nurture cycling talent and improve the well-being of children in Bugesera and across East Africa, according to Gasore.

“I remember when we first planned this project this was just an empty field,” Gasore said. “Now you can see exciting activities happening here, from basic skills development to talent growth. Today, we host around 500 children every weekend who come to ride for free.”

“We have children like Uwera Aline, who started riding here and, after just nine months, competed internationally. Alongside her regular studies, she is now skilled in coffee processing and is set to take a leading role in these programs,” he added.

Minister Mukazayire urged the children to make the most of the opportunity: “You must not waste this chance. Sports infrastructure like this is one of our key pillars to promote sports and develop your talents,” she said.

Speaking at the event, Sylvan Adams explained that Rwanda’s past shaped his commitment to investing in sports that bring people together.

“The history of Rwanda, especially the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, calls on everyone to contribute to the unity and reconciliation of its people. Sports are a powerful tool to help communities live together peacefully and thrive. This is something Rwanda and Israel have in common,” Adams said.

The investment, supported by Winner Rwanda, is valued at about $40 million. It includes a school offering education from nursery through the fourth year of secondary school, alongside specialized cycling training.

The center is equipped with a technology-driven cycling training hub, spectator facilities for live races, a bike garage, and administrative offices. The pump track is designed for mountain and BMX bikes, while the race track accommodates traditional road bikes.

In partnership with Bugesera District, the initiative also established the Bugesera Women’s Cycling Team, affiliated with the Gasore Serge Foundation.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ahead of Netanyahu’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said: “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope. I will not allow it. It’s not gonna happen.”

When pressed by journalists on whether he had personally discussed the issue with Netanyahu, Trump was non-committal: “Whether I spoke to him or not, I’m not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank.”

The comments came just months after the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed a non-binding motion in July 2025 supporting annexation of parts of the occupied territory, a move championed by far-right Israeli leaders such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

These leaders have also been pushing for settlement expansion that critics warn could end any remaining prospects for a two-state solution.

Trump’s remarks directly contradict this momentum and have the potential to strain U.S.–Israel relations.

According to Al Jazeera, analysts cautioned that while the president’s statement was significant, it did not include details of how he would enforce such a policy if faced with an Israeli annexation plan.

Some observers warned that without clear diplomatic or economic measures, the pledge could remain symbolic.

The annexation issue has drawn global concern. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and must be dismantled, urging the return of occupied land to Palestinians.